§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who became eligible for the basic state pension in December 1999 and January 2000 experienced a delay in obtaining their first pension payment. [118320]
§ Mr. RookerThe number of people eligible to receive their basic pensions in December 1999 and January 2000 but who did not receive payment by their first pension pay day is not known and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
It is known, however, that some 37,000 claims were received in December, and 59,000 in January. Most of these people would not be eligible to receive their pension in those months, because Retirement Pension can be claimed up to four months in advance of the date pension is payable.